Tatwa in Vedic Astrology

Dr. T.S.Vasan
Dr. T.S.Vasan

There is so much of literature, worked out hypothesis and research material available in the field
of medical astrology. The modern scientific mind cannot and should not undermine and neglect
this field ----as it is built on Rishi wisdom and culture.

My interest is to present a series of articles on fundamental principles (or topics) of medical

diagnosis that need further study and research in the field. This article speaks of the tatwa, its
cycle and its utility in understanding the human mind, its desires and samskaras.

This birth tatwa is responsible for all human activities and desires in addition to the well being of
the body.
The whole world is a manifestation of pancha bhutas ( five elements). The human body is also a
product of pancha bhutas. Though one of the tatwas or elements is always predominant in the
human body we can identify the predominant tatwa is in one with the help of date, time and place
of birth. This birth tatwa is responsible for all human activities and desires in addition to the well
being of the body.

Each birth tatwa identifies specific characteristic features of the person.

Those people who crave for positions and power are generally born is Tejas Tatwa or Fire
element.
Those who want to achieve high material success, satisfaction and those who concentrate
on achieving wealth by trade and other means are generally born in Prithvi Tatwa or
Earth element.
Those whose minds are always towards learning, spirituality and higher knowledge are
generally born in Akasha Tatwa or Ethereal element.
Those people who are creative, artistic and emotional and succeed in art and literature
are born in Jala Tatwa or Water element.
Those who take work as workship and are capable of facing more physical and mental
stress and achieve their goals through hard work are generally born is Vayu Tatwa or Air
element.
Apart from the above samskaras and desires discussed, Tatwas are very useful in understanding
the human body and its disease. Each tatwa is ruled by a planet or planets. Their characteristics
are clearly seen in the personality of the individuals

Tejas tatwa or fiery element is ruled by the Sun and Mars.

Jala tatwa or watery elements is ruled by the Moon and Venus.
The Vayu tatwa or airy elements is ruled by Saturn
Prithvi tatwa is ruled by Mercury and Akash tatwa is ruled by Jupiter

While understanding the planetary personalities depending upon the tatwa in which a person is
born the planetary karakatwas or significations have to be understood properly. This will enable
us to understand the planet's strong and weak points.

Finding the Birth Tatwa

How do we find out the birth tatwa of an individual who is born on a particular day, time and
place?

Find the sunrise for the day and place of birth. How will the tatwa cycle repeat in a specific order
with a specific duration?

TATWA/ELEMENT PRITHVI JALA TEJAS VAYU AKASHA TOTAL

Duration in minutes
6 12 18 24 30 90

The total time for all the five tatwas adds up to 90 minutes or 1 ½ hours. Generally, after sunrise
first 1 ½ hours tatwa cycle will be in the ascending order which is called Aroha cycle. The
descending cycle of 1 ½ hours is called Avaroha cycle and the tatwas climb down top tatwa to the
bottom tatwa.

The special feature is each day starts with specific tatwa according to the week day and continues
in succession in Aroha and Avaroha cycle.

On Sunday or Tuesday the first tatwa is Tejas tatwa of 18 mins and goes in the ascending order 18,
24, 30, 6 and 12 which makes 1 ½ hours. While descending it starts from 12, 6, 30, 24, and 18.

On Wednesday the first tatwa is Prithvi tatwa. On Thursday the first tatwa is Akash tatwa, on
Mondays and Fridays he first tatwa is Jala tatwa, on Saturdays the first tatwa is Vayu tatwa .

An Example:
A person was born on Wednesday at10.30 am and the sunrise on that day was 6.15 am. Given
below are Aroha and Avaroha cycles as follows:
Aroha table

6.15 AM 6.51
PRITHVI VAYU
0-06 MINS 0-24

6.21 7.15
JALA AKASHA
0-12 0-30

6.33
TEJAS 7.45
0-18

6.51

Avaroha cycle

7.45 AM 8.39
AKASHA TEJA
0-30 MINS 0-39

8.15 8.57
VAYU JALA
0-24 0-12

8.39 9.09
PRITHVI
0-06

9.15

Table showing multiples of three hours cycle to trace the birth time Tatwa

WEDNESDAY AROHA

9.15 AM
FIRST CYCLE PRITHVI
6.15AM 0-06 MIN
 3-00 HRS

BIRTH TIME
9.15 9.21
FALLS IN THIS JALA
3-00 0-12
CYCLE

9.33 TEJAS
12.15PM
0-18

9.51 VAYU
0-24

AKASHA (BIRTH
10.15
TATWA)
0-30

10.45

Explanation
We have considered the Wednesday cycle and time of birth 10.30 a.m and sunrise as 6.15 am. If
you add 3 hrs which has Aroha and Avaroha cycles, it will come up to 9.15 am. Actually the time of
birth is 10.30 am. Therefore we have to add 3 hrs as the next cycle and we get 12.15 pm but the
time of birth falls in the first half of Aroha cycle and the break up has been given from 9.15 am to
10.45 am. The birth tatwa falls in Akasha tatwa ruled by Jupiter. Likewise we have to start the
tatwa cycles according to the week day and if the time of birth in one half of the 3 hour cycle, we
have to make the breakups in that half and find the birth tatwa.

Now we give you some general hints of planets as how they influence our body. If a person is born
in Prithvi tatwa and Mercury is week and afflicted the nervous system and digestive system will
get affected in general. We should also look into other karakatwas of Mercury which influence
other parts like brain and so on.

If Sun gets afflicted, blood circulation and general physique will get affected. In addition the Sun
denotes heart ailments, bone and glandular problems. If Saturn is afflicted joint pain, muscular
and rheumatic pains in addition to its other karatwas will affect the body.When Jupiter gets
afflicted, obesity, liver ailments, hernia and cholesterol problems are indicated. If moon is
afflicted it affects the mind and menstrual cycle, mammary glands and so on. When Mars get
afflicted it causes accidents, injuries, loss of blood and affects the females in general. When Venus
gets afflicted it may give impotence, venereal diseases, lack of enthusiasm etc.

We have given a very small list of planets and diseases and they contain many more ailments of
which we should trace and understand. Like this the birth tatwa and the connected planet will
give the susceptibilities for certain ailments. In this regard the astrologer should see the whole
horoscope and should also see the dasa bukthis which are weak to afflict the body. In a later
article we will touch on planets and glands.